Will the True Prophet Please Stand Up?

Here in Schenectady, NY yesterday, First United Methodist Church hosted a guest preacher/lecturer who forfeited his ministerial credentials for performing a so-called same-sex marriage for his son and partner. His credentials have been reinstated and he is traveling around as a “prophet” calling people to follow the evolving culture. Well, call me a “prophet” who calls people to live in fidelity to the God who made us and knows best how we are designed to function. Here is the text of a letter to the editor which I have submitted to the local newspaper.

Monday’s Times Union edition reported Schenectady’s First United Methodist Church’s celebration of so-called same-sex marriage. On June 29, that congregation welcomed as a hero Rev. Frank Schaefer who had defied the “laws” of his denomination by performing a marriage ceremony for his homosexual son and partner. His ministerial credentials were initially revoked, but later reinstated.

While many (including lobbying groups like GLAAD) celebrate this decision, many of us mourn this sad day in which people who profess allegiance to God have actually turned away from Him (Psalm 2:2-3, rulers take counsel against the Lord, saying, Let us cast away His cords from us). The issue was also in national news recently when the mainline Presbyterian denomination (PCUSA) voted overwhelmingly to allow its ministers to perform such marriages. In both instances, this represents a tragic insistence that people should be allowed (and even encouraged) to disobey the clear teaching of the Bible.

That’s the real issue. Should we be governed by whatever each of us believes is right (as in Judges 21:25, when every man did that which was right in his own eyes), or are individuals – and cultures – better off by following what a wise Creator has revealed in His Word about how He has designed us (as in Joshua 1:7-8, do not depart from this Book of the Law to the right or to the left; then your way will be prosperous and you will have good success)?

Are not happiness and moral purity best achieved by following the righteous decrees of a loving God rather than by the desires of the sinful human heart? This Biblical conviction is confirmed by the consensus of thousands of years of human societies as well as numerous modern studies showing the benefits for children raised in traditional mother/father families. After all, the family is the foundation on which a society is built and preserved.

For 254 years First Presbyterian Church in Schenectady has maintained confidence in the truthfulness of God’s Word and the beneficial results in the lives of all who embrace its teachings. That conviction led First Presbyterian to separate from the liberal mainline denomination decades ago, joining the more conservative Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Today this congregation continues to open its doors to all who will receive the saving love of God in Jesus Christ, finding true happiness not in the desires of their own fallible understanding but in the perfectly wise and infinitely loving heart of God revealed in His Word.

Respectfully submitted, Dr. Lawrence C. Roff, Senior Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Schenectady

That conviction led First Presbyterian to separate from the liberal mainline denomination decades ago, joining the more conservative Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Today this congregation continues to open its doors to all who will receive the saving love of God in Jesus Christ, finding true happiness not in the desires of their own fallible understanding but in the perfectly wise and infinitely loving heart of God revealed in His Word.

“The issue was also in national news recently when the mainline Presbyterian denomination (PCUSA) voted overwhelmingly to allow its ministers to perform such marriages.”

Only in states that agree with them about ‘gay marriage.’ Their gay members who live in states that don’t agree with them are out of luck, even though the PCUSA believes it is right and theologically possible. Which makes me wonder why any gay person would ever bother to belong to such a group. I mean it’s obvious they care more about what the state says about the issue than its own religious determinations and gay members.

Freegards

I would have to say the real issue is a faith that has been corrupted. Of course we all know the rules, but people can rationalize anything. Our churches are under attack. We know it is intentional. How can we prevent a few bad apples from rotting everything?

Catholics have also been under attack. Soros has given millions to fund subversive Catholic organizations. The difference is that even if the entire Catholic population were to become liberal zombies, they still couldn't change Catholic dogma.

The media has distorted headlines and lies almost every day about the Pope. it doesn't matter. The basic tenets of the Catholic church can't be changed. If it isn't in the Catechism, which is based on the bible, it isn't true about the Catholic church.

The Catechism

The media lies about Catholics, Catholics lie about Catholics, and other "Christians" lie about Catholics, it doesn't matter. Nothing is going to change. Thank you God.

I'm not sure how other churches work, but would humbly suggest that something along the lines of a Catechism is effective. Then there is always a need for an authority. Preferrably one that is not obligated to wife and children. Not that the obligation of family is bad, it is simply a priority. That obligation becomes a conflict of interest. Priests' vows of simplicity and poverty are not fair to a family, families need time and dedication, children would suffer. It would otherwise be serving 2 masters.

May God help us all.

The United Methodists nationwide are in a civil war presently, the older preachers have united against the authority of the hierarchy and are in the process of breaking away.

The destruction of the UMC has been going on for years and is just now coming to a head.

There were clarifications and any updates were “extraordinary”

“Catechesis in Church History

The history of catechisms in the Catholic Church goes back to the very earliest days of the Church. There is a document called the Didache, which sets out in a rather systematic way the beliefs, practices, and moral imperatives of the early Christians. The Didache dates from the end of the first century, and so, it is an extraordinarily ancient type of catechetical document.”

The doctrines of the Catholic Church are founded and rooted in God, Who is absolutely perfect and totally unchangeable. Consequently, the Catholic Faith is, as St. Jude tells us in the Bible, that which is “delivered once and for all to the saints” so there is a completely unchangeable element in the Catholic Faith.

Contrary to what popular press reports have sometimes indicated, the Catechism is not a revision of the Faith or some soft of list of new sins that have recently been discovered and invented. Rather, the Catechism does serve the purpose of applying the unchangeable Catholic Faith in its basic and essential elements to the new conditions and situations of our world.

This can be seen in the fact that homosexuality, Gay marriage, etc. is NOT, and never will be accepted by the Church. The Pope is still in charge since Peter, and nothing has changed.

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